When I was growing up in Long Beach in the 1990s, it felt like I was in the center of the music world. KROQ seemed to be walking up and down the streets looking for local musicians to put on their airwaves \u2013 then, predictably, a few months later I\u2019d see that band\u2019s video on MTV and they\u2019d be off and running.<\/p>\n
The Offspring went from playing at Java Lanes to stardom, Sublime went from playing on the Peninsula to a No. 1 album. My dad used to drink at the Reno Room with No Doubt, then my friend Ryan would run into their drummer at the Heartwell Golf Course driving range the next morning \u2014 a month later, that band was smashing sales records.<\/p>\n
As this was happening, seemingly on a monthly basis, some of my friends were annoyed. There was excitement for seeing bands blow up, but there was some pain, too. A bittersweet melancholy at having a local secret become a national success \u2014 albums suddenly cost more, concert tickets became unaffordable.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t a sadness I ever shared, though. I always wanted the bands or writers I liked to have success, even if it meant it was harder for me to be a fan. And in all honesty, I always looked down my nose at my friends who thought success was \u201cselling out\u201d or who didn\u2019t cheer on our favorite bands\u2019 fortunes. I never really understood their position.<\/p>\n
Until, that is, my wife and I pulled up to Obra Bakery for our usual Saturday empanadas a few weeks ago and saw a line that went out the door and around the corner.<\/p>\n
Let me explain.<\/p>\n
Radio and MTV no longer serve as the golden-brick road to stardom \u2014 now it\u2019s TikTok and Instagram that bring in the bucks. Someone made a TikTok about how good Obra\u2019s empanadas are, and that TikTok ended up with a couple of million views. Suddenly our fun Saturday routine was the hottest order in town.<\/p>\n My wife and I aren\u2019t on TikTok, so we didn\u2019t realize that one of our favorite local spots had been featured and suddenly became a happening destination. We opted not to wait in an hour-long line for the food we usually walk right up and snag, which was a good thing: Obra ended up selling out early due to the increased demand anyway.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/img.lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/11\/25111545\/Obra-baker-exterior-scaled.jpeg\")
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